Exclusive Interview: Pop Culturalist Chats with Why Women Kill’s Leo Howard

For as long as Leo Howard can remember, acting has always been a huge part of his life. He got his big break on Disney XD’s Kickin’ It, where he starred as Jack Brewer from 2011 to 2015. Following the conclusion of the series, Leo would go on to add projects like Lab Rats, Shake It Up, Love Daily, and Freakish to his impressively growing résumé.

Despite all the success, Leo is grateful for any opportunity to step foot on a set and do what he loves to do. This summer, he joins the cast of Why Women Kill airing exclusively on CBS All Access. The role finds Leo transporting himself to the ’80s and starring opposite Lucy Liu.

Pop Culturalist had the pleasure of speaking with Leo about Why Women Kill, how streaming services like CBS All Access have changed the industry, and the biggest lesson he’s learned in his career.

PC: Tell us about Why Women Kill, your character, and what drew you to this project?
Leo: Why Women Kill is about three women in three different eras: 1963, 1984, and 2019. Each of them is dealing with a different form of infidelity in their relationship. It’s about what drives these women to do certain things, and it’s a lot of fun.

I play Tommy. I’m in the 1984 storyline. My character has a huge crush on Simone, played by Lucy Liu. He’s the child of Simone’s best friend. I end up having a little fling with her.

It’s a fun show. The biggest reason why I was attracted to the show was the era. The show is so specific in defining each of the eras, and the fact that the whole show takes place in the same house in ’63, ’84, and ’19 is a really cool quality.

PC: Like you said, your character and his story take place in 1984, which is before your time. How did you prepare to step into his shoes and that era?
Leo: I think one of the most powerful representations of what 1984 was is the music. Music is something close to my heart and I love super, super ’80s music. The synthesizer and the stuff that makes you think of the hair and the overdone makeup. I love it! I’m familiar with films from the ’80s and stuff like that.

PC: What can you tease about Tommy and Simone’s relationship and how it changes over the course of the season? Is it more than just a physical attraction?
Leo: The relationship starts out as a physical attraction. Simone is in a position in her life where she needs someone and Tommy’s there. It ends up developing into something more. Simone is a socialite in the ’80s. Everything in her life is very materialistic and all about money, power, and status. Her relationship with Tommy is one of the more real things in her life. It’s a wakeup call for her to re-examine everything going on in her life and deduce what’s the most important. It’s a really fun place to be on the show for me.

PC: Great answer! You got your big break on Disney’s XD’s Kickin’ It. What was the biggest takeaway from that experience that you’ve been able to apply to your career and projects like Why Women Kill?
Leo: The more you work, no matter what the project is, the better you get. I was very grateful to get a start pretty early on in my life. I love it. I really do love it. I’m so proud of this project, which is something that you can’t always say as an actor, but this one I’m very proud of. I love the people that are involved in it, and I love the quality of work that we’re doing. I’m really excited to push this one out there into the ether.

PC: When you’re part of a massive hit show like Kickin’ It, it’s often easy to be typecast. Did you experience that?
Leo: I personally didn’t. I mean, I’m typecast by the fact that I’m a young guy, so I get cast as a high schooler and that’s totally normal. I’m one of the few people that doesn’t mind that. I love working. Even if I’m typecast, I’m grateful to be working. Any day that I get to walk on set and be a part of one of the coolest industries in the world is a good day for me. I’m very grateful.

PC: We’ve seen how streaming platforms like CBS All Access, Hulu, and Netflix have changed the way audiences consume media and content. From an actor’s perspective, how has it changed the industry?
Leo: That’s an interesting question! In some way, it’s great for actors, because there’s more work. There are a lot of shows out there right now and they have a wide range of budget levels, concepts, and shows are getting mass-produced more than they’ve ever been. It’s great for actors because it gives us more experience. That said, the days of everyone getting together as a family to go to the theater, while they’re not necessarily over, they’re not the same. Also, it’s not like five channels dominate TV now, which means it’s even more powerful to have a hit show these days than ever before because there are so many options. This is the evolution of film-making and I’m very curious and interested to see where it goes.

PC: You’re an actor and a musician. How did you discover your passion for each and is there one that you naturally gravitate toward?
Leo: I don’t know if I ever just discovered it. It was always there and as life went on certain things pushed me in the direction to follow what I enjoyed doing. I’ve always made it a point in my life to go after the things I enjoy doing and figuring out how I can make a job out of it.

Music is something that I started completely for fun. It’s still for fun. It’s near-and-dear to my heart, but acting is something that I’ve always wanted to pursue. I’ve had a really strong passion for the industry and the world that we’re in. It’s a really cool thing to get to walk on to set and make make-believe things happen.

PC: Who or what has had the biggest influence on your career?
Leo: I think it’s important for every actor to know what it’s like to not work. Most of them all do. I think that there are people out there in the industry that forget how hard struggling actors work at this. It’s important to always know that as good as you might think you are, there’s always someone right next to you that’s way better than you. You have to do the best you can. That was a big lesson for me. I’ve echoed this a few time, but any day that I get to walk on set and make money doing what I love doing is a wonderful day. It’s easy to forget that sometimes, but it’s important not to.

Pop Culturalist Speed Round

PC: Guilty pleasure TV show?
Leo: I used to. It was Desperate Housewives. I loved that show, man. My mom and I used to watch it. I’m not embarrassed at all. It’s a great show.

PC: Guilty pleasure movie?
Leo: Love Actually

PC: Favorite book?
Leo: Robert Kiyosaki’s Rich Dad Poor Dad

PC: Favorite play or musical?
Leo: I’m not a huge musical fan, which I’m embarrassed to say, but I really enjoyed Book of Mormon.

PC: A band or artist that fans would be surprised to learn is on your playlist?
Leo: I have a bizarre taste in music. I love all things. I have normal tastes and then kind of weird ones. One of them, my girlfriend especially hates, his name is Baltazar. He’s a Mongolian throat singer. I think it’s beautiful, but some people don’t understand it. I try not to associate with those people. [laughs]

PC: Last show you binge-watched?
Leo: Fleabag! Really, really great show.

PC: Hidden talent?
Leo: I make a mean Old Fashioned.

To keep up with Leo, follow him on Twitter and Instagram, and check out Why Women Kill on Why Women Kill on August 16.